주요국 퇴원환자의 약물 정보 활용 현황과 시사점: 영국, 일본, 호주를 중심으로

Abstract

Patients are more likely to experience medication-related problems during the rural season when the place of treatment changes. To prevent this, drug-related information should be systematically organized and shared. However, in Korea, such a system is still lacking. This study aims to analyze the medication information delivery systems of discharged patients in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia. The objective is to identify implications for establishing a system that can link discharged patients’ medication information among nursing institutions in Korea. In the United Kingdom, a structured discharge summary is completed for each discharged patient. If necessary, a pharmacist at a community pharmacy reviews the patient’s discharge medications and provides appropriate medication counseling to the patient. The pharmacist’s review is shared with the hospital, and anything from the discharge medicine service is recorded in the patient medication records. In Japan, medication information is shared between the hospital and community pharmacy during admission and discharge using a medication management information sharing sheet, medication notebook, medication information sheet, or medication management summary. In Australia, general practitioners or hospital physicians refer to home medicines review, residential medication management review, hospital outreach medication review, which are completed and forwarded by hospital and community pharmacists as medication review reports. These reports are then used by physicians to develop and forward medication management plans. All information is recorded in the patient’s My Health Records. Accurately transmitting discharge medication information to the affiliated organization responsible for the patient’s post-discharge care prevents medication errors by avoiding duplication, omission, and incorrect prescription of medications. To ensure seamless transfer of patients’ medication information between nursing institutions in Korea, it is crucial to standardize the contents of the linkage information and establish a patient-centered delivery system.